Scott Wykoff's Blog

Thursday, November 13, 2008

A Day Off From School For The Inauguration?

Should kids (and teachers and staff) get the day off from school for Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20th?

That's the debate going on right now around some school systems in Maryland and across the nation.

It is 68 days until January 20, 2009, Inauguration Day.

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A vote is scheduled today by the Prince George's County school board on whether to close schools on January 20th. The emergency resolution to close schools reads that January 20th will be "a day of great historical significance, in that the first African American President of the United States of America will be inaugurated."

The teachers' union in Montgomery County has inquired about the possibility of closing schools so students and teachers can attend the inauguration events in DC. No word if the the Board of Education is warm to the idea.

The chief of staff for the Montgomery County Schools Superintendent has said schools in Montgomery County will remain open on January 20th.

“We have no plans to close school on Inauguration Day," said Brian Edwards to the Washington Post in an email. " Indeed, it will be a historic moment and I am certain that many teachers will use it as part of their lessons that day,” he said in the e-mail to the Washington Post.

The teachers argument is it's going to an historic day in the Washington-area and students should get the day off on January 20th so they can see history taking place.

Some of those who are critical of the idea of closing schools on Inauguration Day say why not have teachers use January 20th as a day to teach students about the big events and to discuss all that is going on.

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Charlie Herndon with Baltimore County Public Schools says the system will not be closing schools on January 20th. He says they have never closed schools for the inauguration and school will be held as scheduled on January 20th in Baltimore County.

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I checked the HSA testing schedule for the 2008-2009 school year in Baltimore County and January 20th, 2009 is listed as a a make-up day.